FREE CLASS TARGETS GUN SAFETY

Parents need to know how to handle a gun safely, and where to store it safely. And if they don't, their children need to know what to do if they find one.

That was the premise behind a free gun safety class that Gator Guns and Archery Beach recently offered at its West Palm Beach center.

Bob Harvey, an instructor, and Burt Stephens, the center's co-owner, organized the class as a community service.

"Parents need to know how to keep their guns away from children," Stephens said. "And children need to be briefed about how not to mess with guns."

Harvey and Stephens cited statistics from the National Rifle Association, which show there is a gun in half of all the homes in the United States.

"You're not going to take guns out of a household, so the next best thing is education," Stephens said.

Especially for children.

"Your child may be interacting with kids who don't know how to handle a gun," Stephens told the parents who participated. "We have a moral obligation to our kids to teach them gun safety."

Gun safety is particularly important for children, according to the National Rifle Association.

Association figures show 330 children under the age of 15 were killed in firearm-related accidents in 1991 - the most recent year the figures were available.

"The two basic reasons for these accidents are carelessness and ignorance," said Harvey, a former U.S. Marine pistol-range instructor who now works as range instructor at Gator Guns.

At the start of the class at Gator Guns, children watched a video featuring Beverly Hills 90210 star Jason Priestly and an animated cartoon character named Eddie Eagle. Their message: Guns are not toys.

"What do you do if you and your friend are walking down the street and you find a gun?" Harvey asked.

After watching the video, the children who attended the class knew just what to say: Stop. Don't touch. Leave the room or the area. Tell a trusted adult.

The children also learned that trusted adults can include parents, grandparents, teachers, neighbors, police officers or firefighters.

"What do you do if you're at a friend's house and he pulls his father's gun down from the closet?" Harvey asked the children, reiterating the point.

The children repeated: Stop. Don't touch. Leave the room or the area. Tell a trusted adult.

To show how glad they were their children had learned their lessons so well, the parents applauded them.

Next, Harvey directed his comments to the parents. He reminded them that it is their responsibility to make sure their guns are stored safely and securely.

"Never naively think that children won't look for a gun if you hide it from them," he said.

Instead, "Take the mystique out of firearm ownership by teaching your children gun safety," he said.

And follow the rules yourself, Harvey told the parents.

For example, "Ammunition should be stored separately from a firearm," he said. "If you don't follow the basics, you're susceptible to accidents."

Finally, Harvey and Stephens both said a gun is not a substitute for common sense.

"Personal protection is 90 percent in your head and 10 percent in the gun. A gun is a last resort," Harvey said.

Among the families who attended the class were the Haleys of West Palm Beach.

"If they understand that they do not touch guns, then there won't be any accidents," Larry Haley said of his three children.

Among the lessons Haley said he learned from the class: "They [children) should be taught, under supervision, how to operate a gun, so their curiosity will be taken away."

The class took away Chad Haley's fascination with games and replaced it with a respect for guns.

"I'm smart. I don't play with guns," said Chad, 5. "Guns can blow your head off."